SSS - Report of Family Contribution - Family Report

[Anonymous]

This is the first time I've posted - normally I'm interested in other people's experiences- as I class wife, daughter and I as average Joe's so I'd add little to the debate.

However, this afternoon we received the Report of Family Contribution from the SSS, and I'm extremely confused. Basically, we've been "informed" that the SSS have determined the "Estimated Parental Contribution" as about $55K!!

I'm in shock. My salary is $85K, my wife works fulltime and her salary is $65K. Therefore the "Estimated Parental Contribution" is more than what my wife brings home each year after tax.

We do max-out our 401K's. We do have $300K in home equity. We have zero credit card debt. We have a HUGE mortgage - which we always pay. We drive a 5 year old Honda Accord. I believe we live sensible lives - and the idea of spending about $30K each year for my daughter's Pre-K education (excluding Summer Camp) was crazy - therefore we applied for financial aid - only to find that the SSS considers $55K per year possible for my family - that's $4500 per month!!

I guess I'm so disappointed that when a family who saves money and both parents work long hard hours, yet doesn't earn "huge" money - are insulted with a "you can afford $55K a year" letter.

Thoughts?

Thanks in advance,

Depressed.

[Anonymous]

There are many good pre-K programs out there that cost far less than $30k per year. I think I am paying less than $10k now, including summer camp. Although you don't state the amount of your mortgage and the number of kids you have, I can certainly see how $30k is not affordable on what you make. So, maybe you need to look to something within your means.

[Anonymous]

$30k per year for pre-K is ridiculous unless you are making $250k+ per year and have money to burn. We're sending DS to a private catholic full-day pre-K in Montgomery County next year and the tuition is $6,100.

[Anonymous]

prices in dc are just higher. the cheapest i have found for private pre-K is at least $11,000 or $12,000 for full day (and many are 9-3 days). many are more. the ones that are attached to the prestigious private schools are closer to $20,000.

[Anonymous]

Not to stray from the point, but please do some research to find out if you even need private school. If you look at the research, you might be able to put your minds at ease.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$30k per year for pre-K is ridiculous unless you are making $250k+ per year and have money to burn. We're sending DS to a private catholic full-day pre-K in Montgomery County next year and the tuition is $6,100.

Catholic schools are financially subsidized by the church (thus the cheaper tuition), and many are not on par with the schools that most are considering (i.e., Sidwell, GDS, Beauvoir, Maret) -- not to mention that some don't want the religious influence of catholicism.

[Anonymous]

We opted for Catholic schools also though I understand PP that some do not want the influence of a religion especially one not their own. You can look at thier profiles like you can any other school program. For us it was the best option considering academics, community, and cost. Good luck - it is ridiculous that you are expected to pay that much for PreK under any circumstance, let alone on your salaries. My spouse and I make just over $250K and even on that salary with 3 children it is a stretch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$30k per year for pre-K is ridiculous unless you are making $250k+ per year and have money to burn. We're sending DS to a private catholic full-day pre-K in Montgomery County next year and the tuition is $6,100.

Catholic schools are financially subsidized by the church (thus the cheaper tuition), and many are not on par with the schools that most are considering (i.e., Sidwell, GDS, Beauvoir, Maret) -- not to mention that some don't want the religious influence of catholicism.

Not on par? We're talking about pre-K. Pre-K. I went to catholic school K-12 and graduated phi beta kappa and from law school w/ honors. I knew two people who graduated from Maret for high school (both attended other private elems -- one catholic, the other nonreligious): one turned out to be a pothead who went on to teach in MCPS, and the other (the one who went to St. Catherine Laboure in Wheaton) is a doctor. I remember partying w/ the Sidwell kids in high school in the early 1990s -- the rich kids from the nonreligious schools hosted the best keg parties in their parents' fancy homes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$30k per year for pre-K is ridiculous unless you are making $250k+ per year and have money to burn. We're sending DS to a private catholic full-day pre-K in Montgomery County next year and the tuition is $6,100.

Catholic schools are financially subsidized by the church (thus the cheaper tuition), and many are not on par with the schools that most are considering (i.e., Sidwell, GDS, Beauvoir, Maret) -- not to mention that some don't want the religious influence of catholicism.

Not on par? We're talking about pre-K. Pre-K. I went to catholic school K-12 and graduated phi beta kappa and from law school w/ honors. I knew two people who graduated from Maret for high school (both attended other private elems -- one catholic, the other nonreligious): one turned out to be a pothead who went on to teach in MCPS, and the other (the one who went to St. Catherine Laboure in Wheaton) is a doctor. I remember partying w/ the Sidwell kids in high school in the early 1990s -- the rich kids from the nonreligious schools hosted the best keg parties in their parents' fancy homes

Yes, definitely not on par.

[Anonymous]

So what do they do in a $30k pre-K that justifies the tuition -- other than keeping the riff raff out? And to the original poster: if you can't swing the tuition, then you are probably going to be one of the less affluent families in the school. Think about that.

[Anonymous]

My spouse and I make over $400 K, and after taxes, we would be spending a ton of our take home if we had two in private school. So I looked into where the money is best spent. After a ton of research, I come to the conclusion that the more religious a school tends to be, the worse the academics, sometimes worse than public. That includes Catholic schools. (We are not religious). The best academic outcome comes from homeschooling in grades K-3.
To OP, I am assuming that you live in DC. There are two things that people consider, one is to move to the suburbs (yes, boring). The other is to use DCPS, while being very vigilant about schooling, taking an almost home school approach. I have one friend who uses the PS as a social/day care environment but she repeats the core math and reading subjects at home with a complete curriculum. That can be easily done with little time commitment in the early years. Later things get tricky.

[Anonymous]

"the more religious a school tends to be, the worse the academics, sometimes worse than public"

Then how come so many kids from G'town Prep, Visitation, Gonzaga, Holy Cross, Stone Ridge, St. Anselm's, etc. end up in the Ivies? Check out the alums of these schools and you'll find that most are highly successful professionals. I realize that kids from nonreligious private schools also do well, too. I just take issue with the blanket statement that religious schools are sub-par. I'll admit that some catholic elementary schools aren't as hyper-academic as other private schools, but I must say that catholic high schools in this area are tougher than most colleges academically. I still have nightmares about high school -- I swear it was almost as tough as law school.

[Anonymous]

I did not say that all Catholic schools are bad or that all non religious schools are good. Collective data has implied these trends. Also, just because a school is hard, doesn't mean it is good or that the kids are learning.

[Anonymous]

OP here. We do live in DC and unfortunately, public school is not an option. We applied to Holy Trinity, as it is more affordable but just received a letter from them stating that their eitire nursery class is moving forward and they will not be accepting any new applicants.

I tried calling SSS this morning and they would not give me any information about how the calculation works. I was told I need to speak to the schools financial aid director, which is our next step.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you sure they mean $55K per year? Or maybe they mean $55K over the whole course of education - pre-K through high school? This just doesn't seem right, especially given your income.